Thai food exporters are being urged to review their products and\ncertification arrangements before 17 October 2026, as Indonesia moves to\nexpand the application of halal provisions for food and beverage\nproducts.<\/p>\n
According to The Star, the Director-General of the Trade Policy and\nStrategy Office (TPSO), Nantapong Chiralerspong, under Thailand\u2019s\nMinistry of Commerce, stated that Indonesia has expanded its halal\npolicy based on the Halal Product Assurance Law (Law No.\u00a033\/2014) and\nregulations administered by the Halal Product Assurance Organising Body\n(BPJPH).<\/p>\n
The TPSO noted that the policy will have different impacts on Thai\nexporters, depending on the type and processing methods of their\nproducts. Indonesia\u2019s rules distinguish between products that must have\nhalal certification and products that qualify for exemption under the\nHalal Positive List.<\/p>\n
According to the TPSO, processed products containing various\ningredients or additives generally require halal certification from\nIndonesia or from a foreign halal certification body recognised by BPJPH\nbefore they can be imported. Products that qualify for exemption must be\nnaturally halal, contain no additives during processing, and have\nevidence showing that their production and supply chains are free from\nprohibited contamination.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is an important export market for Thailand. The value of\nThai exports to the country reached US$9.3361 billion, equivalent to\n306.529 billion baht, in 2025.<\/p>\n
Exports from the agricultural and agro-industrial sectors accounted\nfor US$1.4152 billion or 46.867 billion baht. Key food and beverage\nexport commodities include sugar, cassava products, fruits (fresh,\nchilled, frozen, and dried), pet food, rice, wheat products, and\nprocessed food and beverages.<\/p>\n
The rules mean that some products that appear naturally fresh may\nstill require certification, especially if they involve additives or\nfurther processing.<\/p>\n
Additionally, the TPSO noted that processed or seasoned seafood\nproducts containing sauces, spices, or oils, as well as dried fruits\nwith additives or coating layers, are products that require closer\nattention.<\/p>\n
Frozen fruit with additives, dried longan, and fresh fruit coated\nwith wax to maintain freshness may also be categorised as processed\nproducts requiring halal certification. Products containing genetically\nengineered plant ingredients also fall into this category.<\/p>\n
Primary agricultural products that are completely unprocessed,\nincluding fresh vegetables and fruits without surface coatings, are\nlikely to remain eligible for shipment under the Halal Positive\nList.<\/p>\n
As a result, exporters may face lower certification costs compared to\nbusinesses selling products with higher levels of processing. However,\nthe TPSO stated that they still require production systems and\nsupporting documentation demonstrating supply chain transparency.<\/p>\n
The TPSO also explained that exporters requiring special preparation\ninclude those dealing with seafood handling, dried fruit, wax-coated\nfruit, ready-to-eat meals, snacks, functional beverages, health foods,\nand processed agricultural products containing additives. The TPSO\nstated that compliance planning must cover the entire process, from\nfactory to the Indonesian market.<\/p>\n
Thai businesses do not have to handle certification directly in\nIndonesia. They can use halal certification bodies in Thailand that have\nbeen recognised by BPJPH for products destined for the Indonesian\nmarket.<\/p>\n
The challenges extend beyond the product itself. The TPSO stated that\nIndonesia is developing halal logistics guidelines covering transport,\nstorage, warehouses, and containers to prevent halal-certified products\nfrom being contaminated by non-halal goods during shipment.<\/p>\n
Food businesses and logistics service providers therefore need to\nprepare for requirements covering separate storage areas, cold-chain\nmanagement, halal status labelling, and traceability throughout the\nsupply chain, the TPSO said.<\/p>\n
Nantapong said that competition in the halal food market is now\nincreasingly focused on standards, certification systems, and end-to-end\nsupply chain management, rather than simply production costs. He urged\nbusinesses to study trading partners\u2019 rules carefully, assess costs and\ncompetitiveness, and develop higher-value food innovations while\nimplementing internationally recognised food safety standards.<\/p>\n
He added that Indonesia\u2019s stricter halal requirements could push Thai\nfood producers to raise their standards and potentially strengthen\nThailand\u2019s position as a production base and supply source for halal\nfood in the ASEAN region and broader Muslim markets. This is provided\nthat businesses are able to adapt quickly and continue developing\nproducts to meet changing global demand.<\/p>\n
The period before 17 October is therefore a crucial preparation\nwindow for Thai exporters to determine their product categories and\nensure readiness of certification and supporting documentation.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/thai-food-producers-scramble-as-indonesias-halal-rules-tighten-1786254668", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }